Yesterday a new squad was picked for the Australian side for their next two One Day Internationals in Sydney and Brisbane. With captain Michael Clarke listed as injured with a hamstring strain for his home town match in Sydney on Friday it has provided some interesting talking points.
The squad in likely batting order for Sydney (excluding Clarke) looks as such:
David Warner (vc)
Matthew Wade
Ricky Ponting (Captain for Friday’s ODI vs Sri Lanka)
Peter Forrest
David Hussey
Michael Hussey
Dan Christian
Brett Lee
Clint McKay
Mitchell Starc
Xavier Doherty
12th and 13th men:
Ben Hilfenhaus
Mitchell Marsh
*Michael Clarke (c) – injured)
Peter Forrest holds his place in the side after a strong 66 on debut in Adelaide, but will most likely relinquish his spot on the return of Clarke. Michael Hussey has returned from being rested and will further bolster the batting line up.
Brett Lee has also returned from a foot injury and will likely take his place in the side in Sydney at the expense of Ryan Harris.
One of the major talking points is the return of Ricky Ponting to captain the side for one game in Sydney. The move has been criticised by former captain Steve Waugh, who suggested the move doesn’t make sense:
“It’s only a temporary thing (but) you put Dave Warner in there as vice-captain (so) I assume they think he is leadership material.
“If he’s vice-captain, why can’t he captain the side as well?”
It appears to be quite clear the new selection panel are touting Warner as a future leader but don’t see him as ready to lead the side just yet.
Both points are valid, considering if you had of said during the 2011 World Cup that Dave Warner would be in line to captain Australia in a One Day International that isn’t a dead rubber you would have been committed to a padded cell.
What better way to learn for Warner than to deputise under Clarke who has shown all summer to be a skilful and instinctive captain.
Now, but only for one game, Warner will get a chance to interact with Ponting in a leadership role – all the while building his leadership skills for the future.
Ponting’s selection as captain also raised another talking point – what is happening to Brad Haddin?
Serving as vice-captain in the test side in the recent series against India, and with his prior stated three-match resting period finished. Wouldn’t this have been the perfect time to re-instate the embattled keeper as captain on his home track of Sydney?
Clearly not. What isn’t clear is his future. Not many people seem to have an idea what the plans for Haddin are, including Waugh.
“I was surprised when they said he (Haddin) was rested and he said he was dropped. There were mixed messages there,” Waugh said.
“If he’s rested, why doesn’t he come back in and be the captain?”
“He’s vice-captain of the Test side so there was an opportunity for Brad to be captain of the one-day team.”
“Obviously he is having an enforced rest. I’m not sure what it is.
“It’s a bit confusing and it’d be good for someone to clear it up.”
Is he dropped or resting? Nobody seems to be able to answer the mounting questions.
For the time being Wade appears to be doing what Haddin’s predecessor, Adam Gilchrist, did to Ian Healy by phasing out the current Australian test wicket-keeper via the one day side.
Instead of playing at the SCG and Gabba, Haddin will be keeping for New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield game against Western Australia. Selectors will surely be keeping a close eye on both him and returning all-rounder Shane Watson who is also making a return to Shield Cricket.
After all those uncertainties, the main question is, will Wade have to wait three years like Gilchrist, or will the new selection panel simply forget the nine-year apprenticeship in first-class cricket Haddin served, not to mention the three and a half years of service he has already notched up in the Baggy Green?
Twitter: @lukebonco
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
The mammoth rise of Jake Fraser-McGurk - his enormous potential and the destructive shot-making that he possesses makes him a very tempting option.
Marcus Stoinis produced his first IPL century and it was a beauty. He went 6, 4, 4, 4 to finish off the Lucknow Super…
Xavier Bartlett has been permission to extend his cricketing education with a spell of T20s in England, playing in the Blast competition for Kent…
Three-Test spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has signed with Tasmania in a bid for red-ball game time ahead of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka next summer.…
Last week, you read about the Matt XI, a compilation of the best cricketers ever to represent the name Matt. And to be fair,…
The Aussie needed every centimetre of his height and reach to reel that one in!
